Computers can perform various tasks through programs. They are essential in industrial and consumer products, personal computers, smartphones, and the Internet. From early mechanical devices to modern microprocessors, computers have evolved rapidly, following Moore's law. A typical computer includes a CPU, memory, and peripheral devices for input and output operations.
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz improved on Pascal’s invention to create the stepped reckoner, a digital mechanical calculator using fluted drums instead of gears.
In 1801, Joseph Marie Jacquard invented the Jacquard Loom, which used punch cards to control the weaving of intricate patterns. This invention laid the foundation for the concept of using punch cards to control machines, which later influenced the development of early computers.
Charles Babbage conceives of a steam-driven calculating machine, known as the 'Difference Engine,' which was an early attempt at creating a mechanical computer to compute tables of numbers.
Charles Babbage began developing the first mechanical computer in 1822, laying the foundation for modern computing technology.
In 1830, Charles Babbage created the Analytical Engine, a mechanical computer that utilized punch cards for input. It had the capability to solve various mathematical problems and store data in an indefinite memory.
In 1833, Charles Babbage designed the Analytical Engine, which was a significant advancement as it was a general-purpose computer with an ALU, basic flow chart principles, and integrated memory.
The principle of modern computers was proposed by Charles Babbage in 1837.
Ada Lovelace writes the world's first computer program while translating a paper on Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine, making her the world's first computer programmer.
Per Georg Scheutz and his son design the world's first printing calculator, significant for computing tabular differences and printing the results, marking an advancement in early computing technology.
Herman Hollerith invents the punch card technique for calculating the 1880 U.S. census, which later leads to the establishment of IBM.
Vannevar Bush introduced the first electrical computer, the Differential Analyzer, in 1930. This machine is made up of vacuum tubes that switch electrical impulses in order to do calculations. It was capable of performing 25 calculations in a matter of minutes.
Vannevar Bush invents and builds the Differential Analyzer, the first large-scale automatic general-purpose mechanical analog computer, marking a significant advancement in computing technology.
Alan Turing conceptualizes the Turing machine, a universal computing machine capable of computing anything that is computable.
In 1937, Bell Laboratories scientist George Stibitz used relays to build a demonstration adder known as the 'Model K' Adder. This circuit provided proof of concept for applying Boolean logic to computer design, leading to the construction of the relay-based Model I Complex Calculator in 1939.
Professor John Vincent Atanasoff successfully demonstrated a proof-of-concept prototype in 1939, leading to the funding to build a full-scale machine at Iowa State College. The machine was designed and built by Atanasoff and graduate student Clifford Berry between 1939 and 1942.
The first Bombe, built as an electro-mechanical means of decrypting Nazi ENIGMA-based military communications during World War II, was completed. It was conceived by computer pioneer Alan Turing and Harold Keen of the British Tabulating Machine Company.
Konrad Zuse, a German inventor and engineer, completed the Z3 machine, which is considered the world's first digital computer. Unfortunately, the machine was destroyed during a World War II bombing strike on Berlin.
The Colossus machines were the first electronic calculating devices used by the British to read German encrypted communications during World War II. It was one of the first digital computers.
The first Colossus, an early electronic digital computer, became operational at Bletchley Park in 1944. It played a crucial role in code-breaking during World War II.
In 1945, University of Pennsylvania academics John Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert developed the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator (ENIAC), which was capable of solving a vast class of numerical problems and earned the title of Grandfather of computers.
ENIAC, the first electronic computer for general purpose, was invented by John W. Mauchly and J.Presper Eckert in 1946.
The first generation calculation computer was introduced on February 15, 1946. This marked a significant advancement in computing technology, paving the way for modern computers. The computer's capabilities and impact on various fields revolutionized the way calculations and data processing were conducted.
The NPL Pilot ACE, based on ideas from Alan Turing, was completed at the National Physical Laboratory in Britain, representing a milestone in the advancement of computing technology.
University of Manchester researchers Frederic Williams, Tom Kilburn, and Geoff Toothill develop the Small-Scale Experimental Machine (SSEM), also known as the Manchester 'Baby,' to test the new memory technology called the Williams Tube. The first program, consisting of seventeen instructions and written by Kilburn, ran on June 21st, 1948, making it the first program in history to run on a digital, electronic, stored-program computer.
EDSAC, the first practical stored-program computer to provide a regular computing service, was completed at Cambridge University in 1949. It used vacuum tubes and mercury delay lines for memory.
Radio Electronics publishes Edmund Berkeley's design for the Simon 1 relay computer from 1950 to 1951. The Simon 1 used relay logic and cost about $600 to build. In his book Giant Brains, Berkeley noted - “We shall now consider how we can design a very simple machine that will think. Let us call it Simon, because of its predecessor, Simple Simon... Simon is so simple and so small in fact that it could be built to fill up less space than a grocery-store box; about four cubic feet.”
On May 6, 1950, the Cambridge University EDSAC stored program computer successfully ran its inaugural program.
The plans for the Simon 1 relay logic machine were published, marking a significant development in the history of computing technology.
The first Univac 1, manufactured by Remington Rand, was delivered to the US Census Bureau, attracting widespread public attention as the first commercial computer. It was often mistakenly referred to as 'the IBM Univac.'
IBM ships its Model 701 Electronic Data Processing Machine, which marked the beginning of IBM’s entry into the large-scale computer market. During three years of production, IBM sells 19 701s to research laboratories, aircraft companies, and the federal government.
Richard Grimsdale and Douglas Webb demonstrate the prototype transistorized computer, the 'Manchester TC', at England’s Manchester University under Tom Kilburn. The 48-bit machine used 92 point-contact transistors and 550 diodes.
IBM presented the world’s first electronic calculator in the United States in 1954, which was made with transistors and was quite large and expensive. It later led to the development of more reliable and affordable commercial models.
CSIRAC was a unique computer designed by British-born Trevor Pearcey and built in Sydney, Australia by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research. It used unusual 12-hole paper tape and was later transferred to the University of Melbourne in 1955, where it remained in service until 1964.
At MIT, researchers began experimenting with direct keyboard input to computers, a precursor to today's normal mode of operation. This innovation marked a shift from the use of punched cards or paper tape for program input.
The world's first scanned image was made on SEAC by engineer Russell Kirsch in 1957. The Standards Eastern Automatic Computer (SEAC) is among the first stored program computers completed in the United States. It was built in Washington DC as a test-bed for evaluating components and systems as well as for setting computer standards. It was also one of the first computers to use all-diode logic, a technology more reliable than vacuum tubes.
In 1958, the SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) system went online. The SAGE system was a computerized air defense system designed to protect the United States from potential enemy bomber attacks. It was a significant technological advancement in the field of computerized defense systems.
Mainframe computers were utilized by large enterprises for mission-critical activities such as massive data processing. They were distinguished by massive storage capacities, quick components, and powerful computational capabilities. Managed by a team of systems programmers, these machines are now referred to as servers rather than mainframes.
IBM completed the IBM 7030, also known as 'Stretch,' which was part of the 7000 series of mainframe computers. It featured dozens of advanced design innovations and was mainly sold to national laboratories and major scientific users.
In 1962, the Atlas computer, which was the fastest in the world at the time, made its appearance and introduced the concept of 'virtual memory.'
IBM announced the introduction of five models of System/360 on April 7, 1963, which marked a significant milestone in the history of computing. The system aimed at both business and scientific customers and had a wide range of new peripherals.
The CDC 6600 supercomputer was introduced, marking a significant advancement in computing technology. It contributed to the development of high-performance computing and had a lasting impact on the field of computer science.
Digital Equipment Corporation introduced the PDP-8, which became the first commercially successful minicomputer. It was known for its speed, small size, and reasonable cost, making it popular in manufacturing plants, small businesses, and scientific laboratories around the world.
HP introduces the HP 2116A system.
In 1967, Xerox PARC physicist Gary Starkweather realized that a computer could create an image with a laser instead of exposing a copy machine’s light-sensitive drum to a paper original. He transferred to Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) in 1971 and within a year, built the world’s first laser printer, which launched a new era in computer printing and generated billions of dollars in revenue for Xerox.
The Mother of All Demos was a groundbreaking presentation by Douglas Engelbart, showcasing the first computer mouse, video conferencing, and hypertext, which laid the foundation for modern computer interfaces.
ARPANET was created in 1969, laying the foundation for the modern internet. It was a groundbreaking development in the field of computer networking.
Microcomputers, also known as personal computers, are small computers based on microprocessor integrated circuits. They typically include a microprocessor, program memory, data memory, and input-output system.
In 1971, the first e-mail was sent by Ray Tomlinson, who included the @ symbol for the first time between the user name and the machine. The content of the e-mail was the first few letters of the computer keyboard, making it an indecipherable text without much meaning.
The ILLIAC IV project, a large parallel processing computer, commenced in 1972. It faced challenges during its development but eventually achieved a computational speed of 200 million instructions per second and 1 billion bits per second of I/O transfer.
The TV Typewriter plans, designed by Don Lancaster, were published in the September 1973 issue of Radio Electronics. It was an easy-to-build kit that could display alphanumeric information on a regular TV set, and was used by small television stations well into the 1990s.
The Mark-8 “Do-It-Yourself” kit, designed by graduate student John Titus, utilized the Intel 8008 microprocessor and was featured on the cover of Radio-Electronics magazine in July 1974. It preceded the MITS Altair 8800 by six months and offered plans for $5 with blank circuit boards available for $50.
Popular Electronics magazine touted the Altair 8800 as the world’s first minicomputer kit in January. Paul Allen and Bill Gates offered to build software in the BASIC language for the Altair.
The MOS 6502 was introduced in September 1975, as seen in an ad from IEEE Computer. This microprocessor had a significant impact on the computer industry.
The Video Display Module (VDM) was first implemented at the Altair Convention in Albuquerque in March 1976, enabling the use of personal computers for interactive games.
Apple announced the follow-on Apple II, a ready-to-use computer for consumers, which sold in the millions for nearly two decades.
The DEC VAX 11/780 was introduced in 1978, marking the beginning of the VAX family of computers. These systems rivaled much more expensive mainframe computers in performance and featured the ability to address over 4 GB of virtual memory. The success of the VAX family of computers transformed DEC into the second-largest computer company in the world.
The Computer History Museum was founded in 1979 to preserve and present the artifacts and stories of the information age.
Commodore releases the VIC-20 home computer as a more affordable alternative to the Commodore PET personal computer. It becomes the first computer to sell over a million units and features Star Trek television star William Shatner in its advertisements.
IBM introduced its first personal computer (PC), the IBM Model 5150, based on a 4.77 MHz Intel 8088 microprocessor and using Microsoft´s MS-DOS operating system. This revolutionized business computing and ignited the fast growth of the personal computer market.
Commodore introduced the Commodore 64, also known as the C64, which sold for $595, came with 64 KB of RAM, and featured impressive graphics. It became the greatest selling single computer of all time, with more than 22 million units sold by the time it was discontinued in 1993.
The Apple Lisa was the first commercial personal computer with a graphical user interface (GUI). It ran on a Motorola 68000 microprocessor and was an important milestone in computing, as it influenced the development of Microsoft Windows and the Apple Macintosh.
Apple introduces the Macintosh with a television commercial during the 1984 Super Bowl, which plays on the theme of totalitarianism in George Orwell´s book 1984. The ad featured the destruction of “Big Brother” – a veiled reference to IBM -- through the power of personal computing found in a Macintosh. The Macintosh was the first successful mouse-driven computer with a graphical user interface and was based on the Motorola 68000 microprocessor.
Windows 1.0 was the first version of the Microsoft Windows line of operating environments. It provided a graphical user interface and a multitasking environment for IBM computers.
In 1986, Compaq introduced the Deskpro 386 system, beating IBM to the market. It was the first computer to use Intel's new 80386 chip, a 32-bit microprocessor with 275,000 transistors on each chip. With 4 million operations per second and 4 kilobytes of memory, the 80386 provided PCs with the speed and power comparable to older mainframes and minicomputers.
Daniel Hillis of Thinking Machines Corporation develops the controversial concept of massive parallelism in the Connection Machine CM-1, which used up to 65,536 one-bit processors and could complete several billion operations per second. The machine's system of connections and switches let processors broadcast information and requests for help to other processors in a simulation of brain-like associative recall.
In 1988, Steve Jobs unveiled the NeXT Cube after founding the company NeXT. The NeXT Cube, featuring three Motorola microprocessors and 8 MB of RAM, was an innovative computer with a base price of $6,500. It introduced several advancements, including a magneto-optical (MO) disk drive, a digital signal processor, and the NeXTSTEP programming environment, which later evolved into OPENSTEP. The object-oriented multitasking operating system of NeXT was influential in accelerating software application development.
Intel released the 80486 microprocessor, which contained more than 1 million transistors and had a 32-bit integer arithmetic and logic unit, a 64-bit floating-point unit, and a clock rate of 33 MHz. The 486 chips doubled the performance of the 386 without increasing the clock rate due to its optimized instruction set and enhanced bus interface unit.
On December 20, 1990, Tim Berners-Lee, a British scientist, uploaded the first website to CERN's servers, aiming to explain the basic principles of the modern web. The page contained rudimentary text and hyperlinks, serving as a modest guide for his project.
Apple introduced the PowerBook series of laptops, which featured innovative design elements such as a built-in trackball, internal floppy drive, and palm rests. The PowerBook line of computers made a significant impact on 1990s laptop design.
DEC announced the Alpha chip architecture, which marked a significant advancement in computer processor technology. The Alpha chip architecture had a lasting impact on the development of high-performance computing.
In 1993, Apple shipped the first Newton Personal Digital Assistant, marking a significant advancement in personal computing and mobile technology.
The RISC PC, released in 1994 by UK's Acorn Computers, replaced the Archimedes computer and utilized the ARMv3 RISC microprocessor. Despite running a proprietary operating system, RISC OS, the RISC PC was capable of running PC-compatible software using the Acorn PC Card, and found extensive use in UK broadcast television and music production.
Microsoft released the Windows 95 operating system along with a $300 million promotional campaign to create awareness about the new product.
In February 10, 1996, the IBM Deep Blue supercomputer faced the then champion, Garry Kasparov in Philadelphia. After an initial fright, Kasparov ended up winning the first game. A rematch was held in New York City in 1997, where the machine won, marking a historic moment in the defeat of man’s intellectual supremacy on Earth.
A full-scale working replica of the ABC was completed in 1997, proving that the ABC machine functioned as Atanasoff had claimed. The replica is currently on display at the Computer History Museum.
The establishment of Virtual Private Network (VPN) provided a secure and encrypted connection, ensuring privacy and anonymity for online activities.
Apple releases the Bondi Blue iMac, featuring a 233-MHz G3 processor, 4GB hard drive, 32MB of RAM, a CD-ROM drive, and a 15" monitor. Noted for its ease-of-use, it marked a significant step in Apple's return from near-bankruptcy in the middle 1990s under the leadership of Steve Jobs.
The Y2K bug was a computer flaw that was anticipated to cause widespread chaos as the year 2000 began. It was feared that computers would not be able to interpret the change from 1999 to 2000, leading to system failures.
The Earth Simulator becomes the world's fastest supercomputer, showcasing Japan's technological advancement in the field of computing. This achievement marked a significant milestone in the development of supercomputing capabilities.
The Apple G5, with its distinctive anodized aluminum case, was hailed as the first true 64-bit personal computer and the most powerful Macintosh at the time. Despite being larger than the previous G4 towers, the G5 had limited space for expansion.
Pandora FMS software development started in 2004 with a focus on monitoring and control of IT infrastructure.
Arduino started as a project of the Interaction Design Institute, Ivrea, Italy, harkening back to the hobbyist era of personal computing in the 1970s. Each credit card-sized Arduino board consisted of an inexpensive microcontroller and signal connectors, making it ideal for various applications. It soon became the main computer platform of the worldwide “Maker” movement.
The One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) initiative started in 2006, aiming to provide affordable XO laptop computers to children in developing countries, with the goal of enhancing their education and access to technology.
In 2007, the first 1 TB hard disk drive (HDD) was introduced, marking a significant advancement in storage technology.
Apple introduces their first ultra notebook – a light, thin laptop with high-capacity battery. The Air incorporated many of the technologies that had been associated with Apple's MacBook line of laptops, including integrated camera, and Wi-Fi capabilities.
The Jaguar, originally a Cray XT3 system, became the fastest computer in the world from November 2009 to June 2010. It was a massively parallel supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, used for studying climate science, seismology, and astrophysics applications.
Apple introduced the Retina display with the iPhone 4 in 2010, revolutionizing high-resolution graphics and display technologies. The Retina display became standard on most of the iPad, iPhone, MacBook, and Apple Watch product lines.
IBM Sequoia was delivered to Lawrence Livermore Labs, marking a significant advancement in supercomputing technology.
Built by IBM using their Blue Gene/Q supercomputer architecture, the Sequoia system is the world's fastest supercomputer in 2012. It is known for its efficiency despite using 98,304 PowerPC chips. Its applications included studies of human electrophysiology, nuclear weapon simulation, human genome mapping, and global climate change.
In October 2013, the one millionth Raspberry Pi was shipped, marking a significant milestone for the credit card-sized computer developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation.
Only one month after the one millionth Raspberry Pi was shipped, another one million Raspberry Pis were delivered, demonstrating the high demand and popularity of this credit card-sized computer.
The University of Michigan constructed the world’s smallest computer, known as the Micro Mote (M3).
The release of the Apple Watch marked a significant milestone in the attempt to build a computer into the watch form factor. It incorporated Apple's iOS operating system and included sensors for environmental and health monitoring. The watch was designed to be compatible with iPhones and Mac Books, generating great excitement and almost a million units were ordered on the day of release.
The world’s first reprogrammable quantum computer was built.
In 2018, Pandora FMS was introduced, offering new opportunities and solutions in the field of IT infrastructure monitoring and management.
PRADIP KUMAR MISHRA responded to a post titled 'Hardware and Software' on August 3, 2019 at 7:28 am.
The Frontier supercomputer, with a performance level of up to 1.102 exaFLOPS, went online at Tennessee's Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility in 2022, ushering in the age of exascale computing.
The Aurora supercomputer, housed at the Argonne National Laboratory, went online in November 2023. It is expected to reach performance levels higher than 2 exaFLOPS when work is completed.
The update on February 15, 2024, emphasizes the application of network management protocols for improved organizational results.
An interview with the Pandora FMS team discussing the flexibility and scalability of the monitoring system, particularly its readiness to work in large IT infrastructures.